
Vinification & maturation
Grapes
Soils
South Africa
Kanonkop is a historic family estate in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, owned by the Sauer and Krige families since 1929 and now run by brothers Johann and Paul Krige. The estate is known for low-yield, dry-land viticulture, with winter cover crops, hand pruning using battery-powered secateurs, and a strong focus on balanced vine growth and soil health. Its wines are shaped by decomposed granite soils, cooling Atlantic influence, and older dryland vineyards. In the cellar, Kanonkop follows a traditional, old-school philosophy aimed at expressing site and vintage rather than manipulation, with an emphasis on complexity and ageworthiness. Winemaking has passed through Jan “Boland” Coetzee, Beyers Truter and Abrie Beeslaar, with Francois van Zyl due to take over in late 2024.
Vineyard scale
Large
80-120 ha